BLASDELL — Those who attended the Aug. 21 Blasdell Village Board meeting were reminded of the past influence of former longtime Village Justice Eugene Salisbury.

Those who spoke, during the courtroom dedication to this former local man, talked about Salisbury’s integrity and passion. The event included the unveiling and positioning of a plaque in Salisbury’s honor in a spot stated by those present to be only fitting: on the wall overlooking the shoulders of those in local authority.

Salisbury presided over the courtroom that now bears his namesake from 1961 – 2001. Many legal system officials from across Western New York attended the ceremony and spoke about Salisbury’s ability to mitigate situations of all kinds in the courtroom, during his four decades on the bench.

“Mentor,” “standard of excellence” and “Blasdell boy at heart” were descriptions used by audience members, to characterize Salisbury and his legacy.

Village Justice Daniel Grasso said that remembering Salisbury by the courtroom’s name “is placing the community’s interest over our own.”

Grasso looked at the newly-adorned plaque and picture of Salisbury, which now hang on the wall over the village board of trustees. “It’s only fitting that Gene is looking over the shoulders of elected officials,” he added.

Grasso later presented Salisbury’s widow Joanne with a commemorative plaque remembering the late judge. That memento said, “In honor of village of Blasdell Justice Eugene W. Salisbury, for his decades of service, commitment and dedication to the village of Blasdell and his fidelity to Justice; May Judge Salisbury’s wisdom linger in this courtroom, in which he presided from 1961 – 2001.”

Several members of Salisbury’s family were also on hand, to view the courtroom presentation, during the meeting.

A longtime friend and legal colleague of Salisbury cited the late justice’s situational quick-thinking, adding, “Gene always had a knack for solving a problem.” To Joanne Salisbury, that individual said, “Miss Salisbury, we thought an awful lot about your husband.

“We took pride that [Eugene Salisbury] came from Erie County [justice system] and was part of us,” the man added.

A NEW FEATURE — Blasdell Mayor Michael Petrie and Village Justice Daniel Grasso pose with the newly-unveiled plaque dedicated to firmer Blasdell Judge Eugene Salisbury, in the village courtroom.

Blasdell Mayor Michael Petrie described the commemoration as a proper way to honor a person whom he called a longtime and exceptional man of character. The village’s courtroom will now be known as the “Hon. Eugene W. Salisbury Courtroom.”

In another matter, the board approved the Blasdell court clerk’s attending the New York State Association of Magistrate Court Clerks Annual Fall Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 9 in Albany, at a cost no higher than $756.

The next meeting of the Blasdell Village Board will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Village Municipal Building.